pete_scorpa3

Fortunately this is almost exatly the system we use now, with small arrows (We use pairs of reds for the A route). If you go the wrong side of the arrow with your colour on it then you've got no one to blame but yourself. It works very well indeed.

"....as fitted at the time of manufacture." No grey area there then, it means unmodified from original. Perhaps this line could have been worded better, or perhaps it means what it says. Protests anyone?

For those of us not in Scotland, it would be well worth stumping up for. It would be a marvelous way of feeling part of the trial whilst not being there. Could a way of making payments via paypal be set up?

Here's another view on the same subject. If we allowed 4's then the same argument about a five must be made. Why should someone struggle and fight their way through a section for 4 marks when someone else has just four careful dabs and looses the same, then a rider failing the same section only looses one more mark.

I'd be happy to make a donation to the TC team in return for a short daily update and the odd picture. It's easy to find out the scores, but it would be really good to hear from someone riding the event each day. If we could get a few people to pay say

You can't beat a new tyre, you soon loose 1 or 2% of the grip as they wear. What you have ask yourself is; would 1 or 2% extra grip make any difference to your riding? Wait until it's 10 or 20% worn and then you will really notice the difference.

Keep your feet on the pegs, as soon as you dab you take the wieght off the rear tyre and it has less grip.

As at today, Friday 21st January, there are 101 riders entered for the Centenary Colmore Cup. If you are planning to ride and your name is not on the entry list, the maximum has almost been reached. So get the forms in the post ASAP. Pete

Trials is the cheapest form of motorsport that you can find. We get a good deal, the sport on the whole is relaxed and friendly, it is open to all ages, we can ride almost every weekend, most can use their bike to practice mid week if they wish and at the end of the year a new bike doesn't cost the earth. What other sport can you compete side by side with your children and your parents if you want to? I have no experience of MX so I won't comment on that, but compared to road racing, trials is run on 'petty cash.' Here's a guestimate of the costs. Typical entry fee: Trials - £13, Racing - £100 (+ £25 for each additional race.) Licence: Trials £10, Racing £65 + Medical at £100 = £165 Minimum new Clothing required: Trials - Boots and Helmet £200, Racing - Boots, Helmet, Leathers, Gloves, Body Armour - £1500 Tyres: Trials - 1 set a year £140, Racing - (Ten events per year x £240) = £2400 Bike: Trials - £4600, Racing - £14000 Machine Preparation: Trials - None, Racing - How much you got? Minimum of £2000. Tools: Trials - Plug spanner and a foot pump, Racing - If you've got it you will need it, plus tyre warmers, plus van, etc etc And here's the big one and it's not money, it's time spent on the bike in each event: Trials 3 hours, Racing 45 mins! You can ride in 50 trials a year, you struggle to do 20 road race meetings even if you travel all over the UK. Trials is very, very good value for money and long may it continue!

Borrowed a mates TL125 in 1980 to ride one trial and loved it. Never got round to buying a trials bike but always observed at the Colmore. Went road racing - Got old - Stopped road racing - Started trials 16 years later, still love it.

Thats a good point, however a modern bike in the

My advice would be to look for a really tidy modern bike, probably 2003 to 2006. There will be good examples of every marque within your price range. Gas Gas, 315 Montesa, Beta, Sherco, Beta, Scorpa have a look at them all and see what you fancy. I will resist mentioning any particular bike, but suffice to say that you should not discount 200's as well as 250's. Twin shock bikes are fine and in the hands of a good rider are capable of winning club trials outright, but to get a really tidy one, you're not too far off buying a decent modern machine which will be lighter, have better brakes and probably give you more confidence as a beginer. Others will disagree, but go to a local event and see what you fancy. Many riders will let you have a little try after the trial if you get chatting about what to buy. Then you can make a more informed choice.

Web site up to date.

Providing you are 21 isn't it?

I turned out to observe for the Evesham Club today at their Vale of Evesham trial which is a round of the Midland Centre Solo championships. To my amazement, there were 100 riders in the entry list and the hard working secretary of the meeting Sam Wickham mentioned that she'd turned 30 away as the entry was full before the closing date. I've been riding for just 15 years but can never remember a Midland event where riders were turned away due to being full. It goes to show that the riders are out there. This was the first time the new 50/50 (Masters?) championship had been run, and there was a significant number of riders in this class, so perhaps the trials appeal was partly down to this. I hope this is a trend that we are able to keep going. I only saw six sections due to observing and they looked spot on, I hope the rest of the trial was just as good. Well done to the small number of hard working members of the Evesham club. Pete

The new IRC on my Scorpa has stayed up fine and the rim tape is absolutely perfect.... now I've fitted a tube!

Fancy Observing at an early section in Dovedale Just? We're only going in there once this year so the observers won't be hanging around all day for the return lap, but that means we will need EIGHTY, volunteers!

To view the entries as they come in for the 100th anniversay of the Colmore Cup which in February, click on the Stratford-Upon-Avon MC web site. http://www.stratford-upon-avonmcc.org.uk/page4.html

Plus it also depends on what comes up for sale within your budget. Remember, always buy by condition, a mint eight year old bike might be a better buy than a trashed and abused three year old bike for the same money. Pete

Sounds like a fairly minor problem. If the bike gets used at low gears/revs much of the time, the 2t oil is not being burned off and has over time saturated the silencer packing. Once it is wet with oil it will never dry out and the only place for the excess oil to go is out the end. From here it drips down onto the brakes. etc Try repacking the silencer.

See if you can blag a ride on a Beta Rev3 200, they really are good.

Thanks everyone, I think there's enough support for the idea to actually do it. I'll apply for the permit. Does anyone have a preference to the start time? 10.30am or 2.00pm are the options. Pete

Just to clear up any misunderstanding, I wasn't suggesting that I put on a trial in any way to disrespect the Royal wedding, simply to make use of an unexpected day off work. The extra bank holiday is on 29th April, the Friday before the May day bank holiday, so there may well be a lot going on. Pre-65 2 day etc but still worth putting on maybe? Pete